My Guestbook

On April 4, 2013...

Hi Patricia! Looking good going on 2 years. Hope things settle down even a bit more for you. Smart to get a flu shot - do it every year and you'll experience a 30% drop in your annual risk of death. Here's to many happy returns of the (soon to be here) day! -- DVB

Patricia - you have been through a lot! And going through major surgery and recovery is tough enough with lots of support and help. Handling that alone is bound to create a lot of stress and anxiety. Having a child to worry about as well (and them to worry about you - no matter how cool they act at that age) is also stressful. So glad you went back to your doctor and are getting help. You have been given a wonderful opportunity for a healthy life and the only way to truly seize that is to get the help you need. It takes courage to reach out and persist and you obviously have LOTS of that! My thoughts and prayers will be with you on this "second phase" of your recovery! Sherry - Aortic Valve Replacement coming up 10/22

Patricia De Leon Thank you Sherry, I can't tell you how good it feels to receive such positive feed back from you, and also from the two comments below from Mitch and Denise. ... Read more

Patricia De Leon Thank you Sherry, I can't tell you how good it feels to receive such positive feed back from you, and also from the two comments below from Mitch and Denise. It truly means a lot, it's great to have this site to share with other heart surgery survivors, I feel blessed to be here. I want to make the most of my life, I am striving to achive that goal.

Blessings,
Patricia De Leon.

On October 4, 2012...

Hi Patricia,

Bless your mended heart! You are in my thoughts and prayers.

It is good that you sought professioinal help for your anxiety and are on medication to help you cope with the panic attacks. I think though that you should definitely look for a different therapist if you are not comfortable with the one you are with.

You ar a very brave woman to have faced this journey by yourself and with a child at home depending on you as well. You will get through this period of anxiety and look back on it some day and see you are stronger for it. Your faith in God and His grace will also see you through!

Patricia De Leon Thank you Denise, I need those prayers.
I am going to change the therapist as I dont' feel comfortable with her or her office staff, I went there becouse it's ... Read more

Patricia De Leon Thank you Denise, I need those prayers.
I am going to change the therapist as I dont' feel comfortable with her or her office staff, I went there becouse it's just across from my home and I thought it would make it easier for me to get there, as driving is a struggle for me right now. But I will take the bus to get to the new therapist.

On October 4, 2012...

Patricia -

Just wanted to say "Bravo!" I applaud your courage to publsih what you have been going through since surgery. I have found accepting and sharing hard experiences is often the first step to true recovery. I hope that is the case for you. I wish you improving health and the courage necessary to continue to take all of this on. You are an amazing person!

Patricia De Leon Thank you Mitch, I truly appreciate those kind words.
I am doing what I can to deal with this anxiety disorder, I am confident that I will also overcame this ... Read more

Patricia De Leon Thank you Mitch, I truly appreciate those kind words.
I am doing what I can to deal with this anxiety disorder, I am confident that I will also overcame this with the right help.

Blessings,
Patricia De Leon.

On October 4, 2012...

Hi Patricia, it sounds like you are having a tough time, your body went through a significant trauma a little like being hit by a Mac Truck and full recovery will take time.

I am no Dr but Have the checked your not going into and out of Afib? Some of your symptoms are similar to mine and the difficult bit was just being able to relax. Part of my Rehab Clinic includes excercise and relaxation training ... Easy to say but difficult to do. I am contemplating taking up yoga! I am constantly checking my pulse to confirm that I am out of Afib!

Your heart is strong now after the repair, it will not break, it is better now than it has been for a long time.

As for your councillor, I would find one that you like, no point being with someone that can not bond with you.

Hope that you feel better soon, remember that the HVJ community is here to help.

Patricia De Leon Hi Paul,
I've thought about the Afib part, I've had to wear the halter monitor twice, the first time for 72 hours and the second time for 4 weeks, they found ... Read more

Patricia De Leon Hi Paul,
I've thought about the Afib part, I've had to wear the halter monitor twice, the first time for 72 hours and the second time for 4 weeks, they found nothing abnormal. I also check my pulse to see if am going into afib during my panic attacks and i am not, my pulse remainds in the 84 - 75 bpm, it's weird.

On July 27, 2012...

HI Patricia, My guess is you are probably trying to get back to normal still. We have to keep this until it gets so bad, then it happens, and I think we all forgot what normal was. I think the twinges are probably your nerves still healing. I think that probably takes a while. But you are doing great.

Im glad the fires are all out such sad news about all that and now the shootings in Aurora. I lived there for a long time and I think I reconized the apartments where the mad person lived. My prayers go out to them. You hang in there.
Getting there
LInda H

Hi Patricia, Glad you are ok. Ill bet everybody that lives in the Denver and mountain smells like they have been at a campfire. I have been worried about the zoo in Colo Springs as well. I remember a time when we were there and one of the monkeys spit at my Mom. Ill never forget it.lol. When I saw the pic of the AF Academy my heart just sunk. I remember when the chapel was being built. And Estes Park we always went there and up on Trail Ridge., And my senior prom was at the collage in Boulder. So yeah they tore my high school down in Thornton and rebuilt it and now this. It makes you feel homeless. I did put the state on the prayer list at church Well stay safe and I hope this will be over very soon and you all get a lot of rain.Take care
For the long haul
Linda H

Hey Patricia, I dont think they cut off cause of age. Your general health has a lot to do with it. My daughter in law, it was her grand father just had to valve replacements at age 85. But she said he was in good health, and is doing really well now. He cant wait to get back to gardening. So I hope that helps some.

Meanwhile I am praying for rain out your way. Hope you are doing ok with all the fires. I have been getting pretty emotional with seeing all the pics, as all of these place were my old stomping grounds. Cant wait for summer to be over with. Take care.
For the long haul
Linda H

Patricia De Leon That's good to hear, i was worried there for a bit. I am in good health and am doing all I can to stay that way, hopefully my repair will last a lifetime.
I ... Read more

Patricia De Leon That's good to hear, i was worried there for a bit. I am in good health and am doing all I can to stay that way, hopefully my repair will last a lifetime.
I live just a few miles from the flatirons fire in boulder, I did see the smoke in the air and could smell the burt smell just a few days ago. My oldest daughter is working with the animals that got evacuated in Colorado Springs, she's a vet tech and lives just on the other side of the Waldo fire, she says the mountains are not visible at all from all the smoke, she's worried about the zoo animals but I told her that am sure they wont' let them burn, she'll volunteer to help with that too am sure.

On June 28, 2012...

Hello, there are many factors that go into a surgeon's decision on risk of surgery and age is one of them, however, I can tell you my mother had her Aortic vavlve replace at 79 years young and she probably was not the best candidate as she also had COPD, end result she is doing fine. Steve

Patricia De Leon Thaks Steve, I am glad to hear your mother is doing fine. It's good to know that I can expect to be treated in my golden years and not left to,,, yeah.
:)

On June 1, 2012...

Hi Patricia. I'm not a doctor, but what follows is from my conversations with physicians and reading of the literature.

"Minimal leakage" is very common. The echo technology is so good it can detect some backwash in almost everybody - some reverse flow is needed to close the valve, after all. You might want to ask your cardiologist to quantify the leakage [for example Effective Regurgitant Orifice area (ERO)], then you can better keep track and assess any changes that might occur. If there is progression, then there may be drug therapies that can slow or even prevent the progression - discuss with your cardiologist.

Most mitral valve repairs are durable, and more recent ones are on-average more durable. My reading of the literature is that if new surgery is needed, a repair is preferred to replacement (outcomes are 2x better). If re-repair is eventually needed you may want to consider a re-repair specialist / center of excellence since the procedure is significantly less common and you want your team to be as experienced as possible.

Hopefully none of that will be needed and your minimal leakage will be problem free, like it is for most people.

Patricia De Leon ERO and it might be possible to slow down or prevent progrssion of my leak?
That sounds very intersting, I am emailing my cardilogist again with these questions. ... Read more

Patricia De Leon ERO and it might be possible to slow down or prevent progrssion of my leak?
That sounds very intersting, I am emailing my cardilogist again with these questions.
I thank you for your comment.

Regards,
Patricia D. L.

On June 1, 2012...

Try this long-time forum for information from many patients with various heart problems..

Patricia I know how you feel. I am five months post op and I also had the Miniumally invasive valve replacement along with the maze and an artery repair. This was my second surgery but my first was when I was three months so I dont remember any of that. My cardio actually laughed and said only a surgeon would call our incissions Miniumally invasive. I also still have upper back pain and lymphodema. Going to pt for that. But I'm feeling stronger every day. I'm was so happy to see your post because I keep feeling like why am I. Not back to 100%. But my cardio keeps telling me I'm doing great. I know I'm not at a year like you are but I would like very much to keep in touch with you.

HI Patricia, I feel the same thoughts you do. I was so sad to hear about Cindy. She was such a sweet person and I hadnt known here very long here either. But I look at it this way. She will be looking down on all of us and wishing us luck. Just so sad she didn't see her daughter graduate. Until later
For the long haul
Linda H

Wow! Those symptoms sound all too similar. My husband wonders how long this has been going on as for years I have had supposed bronchitis as well as a bad cough, wheezing, hoarseness.

I am glad that you knew something wasn't right and pushed to find out. I am too thankful to the ER staff at my hopsital. I sent them a Thank You note yesterday for the (scary) diagnosis, but finally a diagnosis. I thanked them 'from the bottom of my heart' and also noted that they may have very well contributed to saving my life. I am surprised to hear that the 'minimally invasive' surgery is not that different from the open heart as far as the pain and recovery goes. Thanks for sharing and stay in touch.

Patricia De Leon not it isn't that diffrent, your chest hurts the same as if they had gone throu the sternum.

:)

On May 1, 2012...

HI Patricia, Don't blame you for getting off meds, but if you don't feel quite right call the doctor. Thats why they are there for you. It could be something else, hope not. Good luck.
For the long haul
LInda H

Patricia...you were very smart to ween yourself off the toprol. I am also on it but used to sell it. Any beta blocker that you stop taking you should ween yourself off of and im surprised your NP didnt tell you that. If you look in the patient info on the drug it will tell you to do that when stopping the therapy. You obviously know your body and you listened to it. Thats what is most important!

Anyway...just thought I would reassure you that you were definitely doing the right thing. Good luck!

Hi Patricia, Glad to hear your echo went well, hope the results are just as good. For Weight Watchers I can say it really does work, but I also think all of the walking that I have been doing helps a whole lot.

Sorry to hear about fire near Conifer. Sure hope they get it out soon. I think that is where Tiny Town is if I remember right.We use to live near there in Indian Hills and went to Junior High School in Evergreen.
Take care.
For the long haul
Linda H

Hey Patricia, Good luck on your echo coming up. Hope you get the results that you want. Your right the older you get the harder it is in loosing weight. My cardio doctor told me to eat fresh fruit and veggies and walk 2 miles a day. So I joined Weight Watchers and do my 2 miles most days and have lost 27 pounds since Oct. That is going to help me when that time comes. Something to think about.
For the long haul
Linda H

Patricia De Leon Hi Linda!
I am incorporating more veggies and fruits into my diet every day, and am staying away from fast food completley.
I love weight watchers! it's a great idea.

Blessings!

On March 22, 2012...

Patricia, sounds like it has been a roller coaster for you I sure hope things start to look up for you and the doctors are able to give you the answers you need.

I haven't had my surgery yet but I had heart surgery when I was very young and just the stress of knowing that something is still wrong but waiting can be so stressful at times, most days you put it in the back of your mind but it is always there with you.

Hey Patricia, I am able to drive after being realeased from my surgeon. He did not limit me from normal activity, but I have my limits and I am trying not to go beyond them. My body lets me know when I do.Cardio rehab has also helped me alot. Each of us has their own time frame for healing. Hang in there,it will get better!! Take care

Hey Patricia, I had surgery Feb.6th. It is a healing time and I have had good days and bad days. Started cardio rehab last week and it really has helped. I am also walking about 3 miles a day. I'm sure they will be able to help you when you go see them. Welcome to HVJ. Take care.

Hi Patricia, Well somebody from my home town how awsome. I graduated from Thornton HS a very long time ago. And welcome to HVJ. You will find this site pretty amzaing. We have all become friends and new family. We are all here for each other. If you have any problem just put it here somebody will be getting back to you.

I have aortic stenosis/ regurgation and anuersym. I know exactly how you feel. You just dont know how to plan anything cause you dont know what will happen I know its no fun. I hope you get all the answers you need when you see your doctor. Keep us all posted and I will follow you also.
For the long haul
Linda H